Air duct valve arrangement

ABSTRACT

An air duct valve arrangement for use ain an air circulation system comprising an air handler unit and an air treatment unit. The valve arrangement being disposed to prevent short-circuiting of the air treatment unit, but not to hinder the operation of the air handler unit.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to an air duct valve arrangementconfigured to inhibit short-circuiting of the airflow between the inletand outlet of a ventilation unit.

[0002] Modern buildings quite often are tightly sealed and insulated tofacilitate heating and prevent unwanted elements, such as dust andpollution to enter. While the insulation of buildings provides a lot ofbenefits, it can also unfortunately prevent fresh air from entering abuilding and exhausted air from leaving the building.

[0003] As a result, more and more modern buildings are being outfittedwith air treatment units which can introduce outside air into thebuilding, provide purification of the air, or a combination of both.

[0004] In the case of large building with multiple rooms and areas, itbecomes necessary to have an air circulation system which connects theair treatment unit to the different rooms and areas. Since it would beinconvenient to provide a new air circulation system for existingbuildings, these air treatment units are usually hooked up to existingair circulation systems within the buildings. These air circulationsystems are often connected among other things to an air handling unitwhich heats or cools air. The heated or cooled air is then circulatedthrough the building through the air circulation system (e.g. an airhandling unit).

[0005] There are, however, some problems which may arise from connectingan air treatment unit to an existing air circulation system. One of thebiggest problems with this is that if the inlets and outlets of the airtreatment unit are placed too closely together then a short circuitingof the air flows entering and exiting the air treatment unit may occur.This is not desirable because it leads to a portion of the air beingtreated over and over again, thereby reducing the amount of treatedinterior air.

[0006] The simplest solution to this problem is to provide a blockingsystem between the air inlet and the outlet of the air treatment unit.This way the short circuiting is prevented. This solution can, howevercause additional problems in buildings where the air treatment unit isconnected to an air circulation system containing an air handling unit.

[0007] In a building where the air treatment unit is connected to thesame air circulation system as an air handling unit, blocking thepassage between the air inlet and outlet of the air treatment unit canresult in impaired flow of air. The reason for this is that air handlingunits usually drive air through the air circulation system at muchhigher volumes than that which pass through an air treatment unit.Therefore, if the passage were to be blocked between the air inlet andoutlet of the air treatment unit, all the air would have to pass throughthe air treatment unit. Thus the air handling unit would be unable tooperate at its full capacity.

[0008] Additionally, if the air treatment unit is hooked up to an aircirculating system including an air handling unit which drives airthrough the air circulating system then it is not always necessary tohave a blockage between the air inlet and outlet of the air treatmentunit. The reason for this is that the air handling unit drives airthrough the air circulation system thereby making short circuiting ofthe air treatment unit not possible.

[0009] While it looks as though the simplest solution would be to nothave a blockage if a air handling system is in use in the building, inreality things are not quite as simple. In reality, an air handling unitwould not be used all of the time, and would not always be synchronisedwith the air treatment unit.

[0010] Therefore, it can be seen that a blockage would be required whenthe air treatment unit is running, but the air handling unit is notrunning. However, a blockage would not be needed, and would beinconvenient when the air handling unit is running. Various solutionshave been developed for this problem, such as having means whichsynchronise the use of the air treatment unit and the air handling unit,and/or valves which are set to open and close as the air handling unitis turned on and off.

[0011] However, there are certain problems with these solution. In thecase of means for synchronising the use of the air treatment unit andthe air handling unit, the means in question can quite often be costly,and in addition, problems may arise since the air treatment unit and theair handling unit may not need to be active for similar periods of time.For instance on a very cold day the air handling unit may need to beactive almost constantly, while the air treatment unit would not.Alternately, there might be a period of time when the air treatment unitis running almost constantly, but the air handling unit is not. In bothof these cases if the units were synchronised this would, over longerperiods of time, lead to excess expenditures on power and such for thetwo units.

[0012] It would therefore seem that including valves which can be openedand closed as needed would be a better solution. While this does appearto be true, previous devices for this use have commonly had someproblems. The main problem with prior art devices is how to synchronisethe opening and closing of the valve with the use of the air handlingunit. In most solutions various detection mechanisms and movableblockages have had to be included in the air circulation system.

[0013] These systems are not always desirable because they are quitecomplex and therefore the cost associated with them can become high,especially since many parts would have to be built to fit the differentsizes of different air circulation system.

[0014] As can be seen from the above, there is a need for a simple andeasily scalable valve arrangement for use with an air circulationsystem.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In accordance with one aspect the present invention provides avalve arrangement comprising:

[0016] a first side;

[0017] a second side;

[0018] a plurality of valves displaceable between an open and a closedposition;

[0019] valve biassing means for biassing said plurality of valves to theclosed position;

[0020] said plurality of valves and said valve biassing means beingconfigured and disposed such that

[0021] a flow of air coming from the first side can displace theplurality of valves from said closed position to said open position andpass through said plurality of valves, and

[0022] a flow of air coming from the second side will not be able topass through the valves.

[0023] In accordance with another aspect the present invention providesa ventilation system for ventilating an enclosed space comprising

[0024] an air handling unit, said air handler unit receiving an airstream from said enclosed space through a return air pathway, and saidair handler unit returning said air stream to said enclosed spacethrough a supply air pathway; and

[0025] an air treatment unit connected to said return air pathway by aninlet duct and an outlet duct, such that air may pass into the airtreatment unit from said return air pathway through said inlet duct, andsuch that air may pass out of the air treatment unit to said return airpathway through said outlet duct;

[0026] said inlet duct and said outlet duct being connected to saidreturn air pathway such that said outlet duct is connected downstream ofsaid inlet duct;

[0027] the improvement comprising a valve arrangement comprising

[0028] a first side;

[0029] a second side;

[0030] a plurality of valves displaceable between an open and a closedposition;

[0031] valve biassing means for biassing said plurality of valves to theclosed position;

[0032] said plurality of valves and said valve biassing means beingconfigured and disposed such that

[0033] a flow of air coming from the first side can displace theplurality of valves from said closed position to said open position andpass through said plurality of valves, and

[0034] a flow of air coming from the second side will not be able topass through the valves;

[0035] said valve arrangement being included in said return air pathwaybetween said inlet duct and said outlet duct, such that said first sidepoint in the direction of said inlet duct and such that said second sidepoints in the direction of said outlet duct.

[0036] In accordance with a further aspect the present inventionprovides a ventilation system for ventilating an enclosed spacecomprising

[0037] an air handling unit, said air handler unit receiving an airstream from said enclosed space through a return air pathway, and saidair handler unit returning said air stream to said enclosed spacethrough a supply air pathway; and

[0038] an air treatment unit connected to said supply air pathway by aninlet duct and an outlet duct, such that air may pass into the airtreatment unit from said supply air pathway through said inlet duct, andsuch that air may pass out of the air treatment unit to said supply airpathway through said outlet duct;

[0039] said inlet duct and said outlet duct being connected to saidsupply air pathway such that said outlet duct is connected downstream ofsaid inlet duct;

[0040] the improvement comprising a valve arrangement comprising

[0041] a first side;

[0042] a second side;

[0043] a plurality of valves displaceable between an open and a closedposition;

[0044] valve biassing means for biassing said plurality of valves to theclosed position;

[0045] said plurality of valves and said valve biassing means beingconfigured and disposed such that

[0046] a flow of air coming from the first side can displace theplurality of valves from said closed position to said open position andpass through said plurality of valves, and

[0047] a flow of air coming from the second side will not be able topass through the valves;

[0048] said valve arrangement being included in said supply air pathwaybetween said inlet duct and said outlet duct, such that said first sidepoint in the direction of said inlet duct and such that said second sidepoints in the direction of said outlet duct.

[0049] Operating advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent by referring to the following description wherein exampleembodiments of the present invention are described.

[0050] In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate likeelements throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] In the drawings which illustrate example embodiments of thepresent invention:

[0052]FIG. 1 shows a schematic front perspective view of a valvearrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0053]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a valve means used with thevalve arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

[0054]FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the valve arrangement shown inFIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2, showing the valve arrangement in aclosed position.

[0055]FIG. 4 shows the cross section of the valve arrangement shown inFIG. 3, showing the valve arrangement in an open position.

[0056]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the valve arrangement shown inFIG. 1.

[0057]FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an air circulation systemwherein an air treatment unit has been short circuited.

[0058]FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a first air circulation systemusing a valve arrangement according to the invention, wherein an airtreatment unit and an air handling unit are both operating.

[0059]FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the air circulation systemusing a valve arrangement according to the invention as shown in FIG. 7,wherein the air handling unit is operating, but the air treatment unitis not.

[0060]FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the air circulation systemusing a valve arrangement according to the invention as shown in FIG. 7,wherein the air treatment unit is operating, but the air handling unitis not.

[0061]FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of a second air circulationsystem using a valve arrangement according to the invention, wherein anair treatment unit and an air handling unit are both operating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062]FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a valving arrangement10 according to the present invention. The valving arrangement 10 maycomprise a support means 20, and one or more valve means 30 (in thiscase valve means 30, 30′, and 30″). While the support means is shown inFIG. 1, as a frame it can easily be any other suitable means.

[0063] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the valve means 30 are each made up oftwo parts. The first part is the valve plate 32, which is the largerpart of the valve means 30. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the valve plate 32may be slightly curved such that air blowing on the concave side canmore easily move the valve. However, other embodiments wherein the valveplate 32 is not curved, may also be used.

[0064] The second part of the valve means 30 is the valve support 34which may comprise a round bar which is attached to the valve plate 32,for instance by welding or any other appropriate means. Alternately, thevalve support 34 may also be formed integral with the valve plate 32.

[0065] It should be noted that any appropriate valve support means maybe use which allows the valve plate 32 to be attached to the supportmeans 20, while still being able to rotate.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the valve support 34 isattached to the valve plate 32 such that the surface of the valve plate32 is divided into two parts 36 and 38, with part 38 being larger thanpart 36. This is done so that when the valve means 30 is suspended bythe valve support 34 the valve plate 32 will be suspended substantiallyvertically.

[0067] Turning back to FIG. 1, we can see that a plurality of valvemeans 30, 30′, and 30″ may be attached to the support means 20 byjournaling the valve supports 34, 34′, and 34″ into the sides of thesupport means 20. The valve means 30, 30′ and 30″ are then pivotablysuspended within the support frame 20, with gravity tending to keep thevalve arrangement 10 in a closed position.

[0068]FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the valve arrangement 10 shown inFIG. 1 along line 2-2, with the support means 20 being drawn in dashedlines. In this figure we can see the valve arrangement 10 in the closedposition. It can be seen that in the closed position the valve plate 32of a first valve means 30 overlaps with a second valve means 30′ suchthat the lower edge of valve plate 32 close to the height of the valvesupport 32′ of the second valve means 30′. The same holds for the loweredge of valve plate 32′ and the valve support 34″ of third valve means30″.

[0069] Thus the valve means 30, 30′, and 30″ may freely pivot in acounter clockwise direction, but will be prevented from pivoting in aclockwise direction. The valve arrangement 10 may then be cause to enteran open position by a stream of air moving in the direction of arrow 40and hitting a first side 12 of the valve arrangement 10, but not by astream of air moving in the direction of arrow 42 and hitting a secondside of the valve arrangement 10.

[0070]FIG. 4 shows the valve arrangement of FIG. 3 in the open position.In this position the valve means 30, 30′, and 30″ are being held open bya stream of air moving in the direction of arrow 44.

[0071]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the valve arrangement 10 asshown in FIG. 1.

[0072] Moving on to FIG. 6 we see an air circulation system having anair treatment unit 100 and a air handling unit 110, which is notsupplied with a valve arrangement according to the present invention.

[0073] During normal operation an air stream would be taken from withina building (not shown) through the return air duct 120. Passed to theair handling unit 110 and then returned to the building via supply airduct 130.

[0074] Also attached to return air duct 120 is the air treatment unit100, which removes a portion of the air stream and treats it. Treatmentof air may for instance mean purification, replacement with outside air,or a combination of both. The air treatment unit 100 has an air inlet102 through which air can enter the air treatment unit, and an airoutlet 104 through which air is released back into the air circulationsystem.

[0075] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the air treatment unit alsohas exterior inlet 106 and exterior outlet 108, which are used to drawfresh air from the outside of the building, and release exhausted airfrom the inside of the building.

[0076] In the instance shown in FIG. 6, the air handling unit 110 is notin operation and is therefore not driving air through the aircirculation system. The air treatment unit 100, on the other hand is inoperation. As a result, an air flow as shown by the arrows 140 mayresult.

[0077] As can be seen from arrows 140, the air flow of the air treatmentunit 100 has been short circuited such that the air inlet 102 instead ofdrawing exhausted air coming from the inside of the building through thereturn air duct 120, draws on the air being released from the air outlet104 of the air treatment unit 100. The result is that the air treatmentunit continuously treats the same air, thus being virtually ineffective.

[0078]FIG. 7, 8, and 9 on the other hand show an air circulation systemsimilar to that shown in FIG. 6, which has been fitted with a valvearrangement 199 according to the invention. The valve arrangement 199has a first side and a second side such that a flow of air coming fromthe direction of the first side may open the valve arrangement, but aflow of air coming from the second side will not.

[0079] The air circulation system comprises an air treatment unit 200for treating exhaust air, an air handling unit 210 for handling (e.g.heating or cooling), as well as driving air through the air circulationsystem, a return air duct 220 for air returning from a building, and asupply air duct 230 which supplies air to the building.

[0080] The air treatment unit 200 further has an air inlet 202, an airoutlet 204, an exterior air inlet 206, and an exterior air outlet 208.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, 8 and 9, the valve arrangement199 has been placed in said return air duct 220 between said air inlet202 and said air outlet 204, such that said first side faces or pointsin the direction of said air inlet 202, and such that said second sidefaces or points in the direction of said air outlet 204.

[0082] In the instance shown in FIG. 7, both the air treatment unit 200,and the air handling unit 210, are operational. The path of an airstream passing through the air circulation system is shown by the arrows240. In this instance an air stream is drawn from inside the buildingthrough the return air duct 220, this air stream then passes by the airinlet 202 of the air treatment unit 200 where a portion of the air isremoved from the air stream an is treated by the air treatment unit 200.The remaining air stream then passes through the valve arrangement 199which is in an open configuration due to the flow of the air streampushing on the first side of said valve arrangement 199. As the airstream passes by the air outlet 204 of the air treatment unit thetreated air is returned to the air stream. Finally, the air streampasses through the air handling unit 210, where it is heated or cooledas desired, before being released back into the building through supplyair duct 230.

[0083] In the instance shown in FIG. 8, the air handling unit 210 isoperational, while the air treatment unit is not. In this instance anair stream drawn from inside the building through the return air duct220, the air stream then passes through the valve arrangement 199 whichagain is in the open configuration due to the flow of the air streampushing on the first side of said valve arrangement 199. The air streamthen passes through the air handling unit 210, where it is heated orcooled as desired, before being released back into the building throughsupply air duct 230.

[0084] Finally, FIG. 9 shows the air circulating system when the airtreatment unit 200 is operating, but the air handling unit is not. Inthis instance the air treatment unit 200 will draw a small air stream inthrough its air inlet 202, thus causing an equal amount to be drawn intothe air circulation system through the return duct. After the air streamhas been treated the air stream is then released back into the airtreatment system through air outlet 204. This air stream will now passthrough the inactive air handling unit and back into the building.

[0085] Due to the fact that only the air treatment unit 200 is drivingair through the air circulation system, there will not be a sufficientair pressure on first side of the valve arrangement 199 to cause it todisplace to the open configuration. The valve arrangement is thus in anclosed configuration, thereby effectively blocking the return air duct220 between the air inlet 202 and the air outlet 204. Short circuitingof the air flow of the air treatment unit is thereby prevented.

[0086] In fact, the air treatment unit 200 creates an air pressure whichis an inversion of the air pressure which would have been created by theair handling unit 210, thus creating a pressure on said second side ofsaid valve arrangement. This further works to ensure that the valvearrangement 199 remains closed.

[0087] Moving on, FIG. 10 shows an alternate configuration of an aircirculation system using a valve arrangement according to the presentinvention. This air circulation system comprises an air treatment unit300 having air inlet 302, air outlet 304, exterior air inlet 306, andexterior air outlet 308. Additionally the air circulation systemcomprises air handling unit 310 which heats or cools the air as neededand which can drive air through the air circulation system, return airduct 320 through which air is drawn from the interior of a building, andsupply air duct 330 to which the air treatment unit 300 is connected andthrough which air is returned to the building.

[0088] While the principles of this invention has been described inconnection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearlythat these descriptions, along with the chosen examples and data, aremade only by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the scopeof this invention, in any manner. Many modifications and otherembodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in theart having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoingdescriptions and the associated drawings. No concerted attempt to repeathere what is generally known to the artisan has therefore been made.Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modificationsand embodiments are intended to be included within the appended claimswith the scope thereof determined by the reasonable equivalents, asunderstood by those skilled in the art.

1. A valve arrangement comprising: a first side; a second side; aplurality of valves displaceable between an open and a closed position;valve biassing means for biassing said plurality of valves to the closedposition; said plurality of valves and said valve biassing means beingconfigured and disposed such that a flow of air coming from the firstside can displace the plurality of valves from said closed position tosaid open position and pass through said plurality of valves, and a flowof air coming from the second side will not be able to pass through thevalves.
 2. A ventilation system for ventilating an enclosed spacecomprising an air handling unit, said air handler unit receiving an airstream from said enclosed space through a return air pathway, and saidair handler unit returning said air stream to said enclosed spacethrough a supply air pathway; and an air treatment unit connected tosaid return air pathway by an inlet duct and an outlet duct, such thatair may pass into the air treatment unit from said return air pathwaythrough said inlet duct, and such that air may pass out of the airtreatment unit to said return air pathway through said outlet duct; saidinlet duct and said outlet duct being connected to said return airpathway such that said outlet duct is connected downstream of said inletduct; the improvement comprising a valve arrangement comprising a firstside; a second side; a plurality of valves displaceable between an openand a closed position; valve biassing means for biassing said pluralityof valves to the closed position; said plurality of valves and saidvalve biassing means being configured and disposed such that a flow ofair coming from the first side can displace the plurality of valves fromsaid closed position to said open position and pass through saidplurality of valves, and a flow of air coming from the second side willnot be able to pass through the valves; said valve arrangement beingincluded in said return air pathway between said inlet duct and saidoutlet duct, such that said first side point in the direction of saidinlet duct and such that said second side points in the direction ofsaid outlet duct.
 3. A ventilation system for ventilating an enclosedspace comprising an air handling unit, said air handler unit receivingan air stream from said enclosed space through a return air pathway, andsaid air handler unit returning said air stream to said enclosed spacethrough a supply air pathway; and an air treatment unit connected tosaid supply air pathway by an inlet duct and an outlet duct, such thatair may pass into the air treatment unit from said supply air pathwaythrough said inlet duct, and such that air may pass out of the airtreatment unit to said supply air pathway through said outlet duct; saidinlet duct and said outlet duct being connected to said supply airpathway such that said outlet duct is connected downstream of said inletduct; the improvement comprising a valve arrangement comprising a firstside; a second side; a plurality of valves displaceable between an openand a closed position; valve biassing means for biassing said pluralityof valves to the closed position; said plurality of valves and saidvalve biassing means being configured and disposed such that a flow ofair coming from the first side can displace the plurality of valves fromsaid closed position to said open position and pass through saidplurality of valves, and a flow of air coming from the second side willnot be able to pass through the valves; said valve arrangement beingincluded in said supply air pathway between said inlet duct and saidoutlet duct, such that said first side point in the direction of saidinlet duct and such that said second side points in the direction ofsaid outlet duct.